Helicobacter Pylori: Prevalence and Relationship to Hematological Parameters of Symptomatic Patients who Conducted Gastroscopy at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the most important public health problems worldwide. The study was done to determine the epidemiology of H. pylori, and its relation to the hematological parameters of symptomatic patients who conducted upper gastrointestinal (GIT) endoscopy at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was done during the academic year 2016/2017. All records of the eligible cases who complained from GIT manifestations, and conducted upper GIT endoscopy at KAUH (during 2015) were assessed. Only cases with samples taken from the gastric mucosa and examined by the Rapid Urease Test (RUT) were included. Results of two sets of Complete Blood Count (CBC) before and 6 months after treatment of H. pylori were taken. Cases were interviewed at 2017 for follow-up.

Results: Two-thousand patients’ files were reviewed with a 29.5% prevalence of H. pylori. The most frequently reported clinical presentation of H. pylori was epigastric pain (54.3%). Males had a significantly higher rate of infection compared to females. H. pylori was associated with gastric ulcer and gastritis. There was no association between H. pylori and the hematological parameters of patients. Treatment of H. pylori caused a little increase in RBCs & hemoglobin level.

Conclusions: Nearly thirty percent of the symptomatic patients who conducted upper gastro-endoscopy at KAUH were infected with H. pylori. Infection was associated with gastritis and gastric ulcer. There is no association between H. pylori and hematological parameters. Screening and management of symptomatic cases for H. pylori is recommended.